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enIsco is Spains future, says keeper CasillasIker Casillas has claimed Real Madrid and Spain team-mate Isco is the most important player for the future of Spanish football.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/isco-spains-future-casillas
The former Malaga midfielder has impressed for Real this term, helping fill the void left byLuka Modric's injury-enforced absence to represent a key part of Carlo Ancelotti's title-chasing side.
The 22-year-old was particularly influentialin Real's 2-0 win over Elche on Sunday - setting up Cristiano Ronaldo for the second goal - and Casillas hasno doubts over the youngster'stalent.
"He is the most important player for the future of Spanish football," Casillas told Canal Plus.
"He has to focus on his game because flattery can weaken players."
Real have lost just one game in 10 following their success at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero,with Ancelotti's side recovering well from their 4-0 derby mauling at the hands of Atletico Madrid.
Casillas - who made his 500th La Liga appearance on Sunday - feels Real are back on track.
"We're getting there. In two weeks football can change a lot. Before there was a barrage of criticism and now things are quiet," he added.
"We know that at Real Madrid the criticism must be harsh and sometimes it can be soft. We have recovered from the puncture at the Calderon and we are where we want to be.
"We have always had attitude. It’s normal to have ups and downs. In the good times things are easy but there must be more unity in the bad times. That’s what we have done."
news_articleMon, 23 Feb 2015 11:04:35 +0000349366 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCasillas: No Real benefit from past Schalke tiesGoalkeeper Iker Casillas says Real Madrid will see no benefit from having faced Schalke in last seasons UEFA Champions League when the sides meet again on Wednesday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/no-real-benefit-previous-schalke-showdowns-casillas
Real claimed a 9-2 aggregate victory over Schalke in last year's round of 16 on their way to lifting the trophy.
However, Casillas is not expecting an easy ride this time around against the Bundesliga's fourth-placed side.
"It will be very difficult," he is quoted as telling UEFA."The atmosphere in Germany will be very intense.
"They are aware that they have an opportunity to get revenge and we expect a tough game.
"The fact that we faced them last year does not benefit us. If anything, it gives them an advantage.
"It would be a mistake to think that playing in Gelsenkirchen will be easy and that we'll repeat what happened last year.
"Quite the opposite: we have to be careful and go there with humility. It will be a very tough tie."
Ahead of the trip to Germany, Casillas praised the way one of Real's own German stars, Toni Kroos, has settled into the club.
"This season, some players who were important to our style of play left the club," he added."Others arrived and have become key elements of the team, like James [Rodriguez]or Toni Kroos. The statistics are there to see and demonstrate that.
"Kroos feels very comfortable with the ball. He looks to move it, pass it quickly from right to left."
"He's quick and young. He has being playing to a top level for a long time, so I think that Real Madrid were right to sign him, above all when you take into account his age.
"He has already shown that he can be key in the midfield."
news_articleTue, 17 Feb 2015 09:57:18 +0000345490 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAncelotti not concerned by disgruntled fansCarlo Ancelotti was not concerned that he and Iker Casillas bore the brunt of Real Madrid fans frustration during Saturdays 2-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/ancelotti-not-concerned-disgruntled-fans
Real fans whistled at coach Ancelotti and goalkeeper Casillas at the Santiago Bernabeu a week after the 4-0 derby hammering against Atletico Madrid.
Ancelotti took that on the chin, though, after goals from Isco and Karim Benzema secured a win which moved the European champions four points clear of second-placed Barcelona, who play Levante on Sunday.
He said: "It's normal for me or the team to be whistled. It's frustrating for everyone to lose a derby 4-0. We all understood the need to win and the importance of the support.
"We need to say thank you to the fans. It's hard to support the team when things go badly. The team are grateful for it."
The Italian added: "Casillas whistled? As always, the whistles were at the start and then they stopped and there was applause for the game he had."
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale struck the crossbar, but Real did not have things their own way and Depor midfielder Celso Borges rattled the post in the second half.
Ancelotti added: "It wasn't an easy game. We only played well in parts and we had tough spells. The week was different, delicate, complicated, but we came out of it with a win.
"Today we did at times what we always do. There were worries, but everything turned out alright. The fans helped us. They helped us come out of this."
Ancelotti also allayed concerns over Marcelo's fitness after the defender was withdrawn due to injury late on, revealing that the Brazil left-back will be fit to face Schalke in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
news_articleSat, 14 Feb 2015 21:11:12 +0000343930 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comReals Casillas asks for forgiveness after routReal Madrid captain Iker Casillas has pleaded for forgiveness from the clubs supporters following Saturdays 4-0 drubbing at the hands of rivals Atletico Madrid.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/casillas-asks-forgiveness-after-derby-mauling
Spanish champions Atleti were ruthless in a 4-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon, as two goals in either half kept Diego Simeone's men in the race for the Liga title.
Goalkeeper Casillas believes there is little point in dwelling on the defeat because the team were so badly outplayed and is keen to quickly avenge the defeat in Real's coming matches.
"Analysing the game is a mistake. Atletico were better than us, they beat us all over the park," Casillas told reporters.
"They were superior and we have to congratulate them because they played a perfect game. We were lacking in every aspect of play.
"We leave here with heavy hearts, but we have to correct the mistakes so they don't repeat themselves again in the future.
"We also have to ask the fans for forgiveness because we are the last people who want to give this image of ourselves.
"It was a tough defeat. We have to get on with it, keep face and focus on the next match. We weren't at our best. We are responsible for conceding four goals.
"I'm not going to make excuses for myself because that would look like I was trying to distance myself from any of my mistakes."
news_articleSun, 08 Feb 2015 09:47:37 +0000339755 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comWhy transfer rumours twist and shout louder than The BeatlesJanuary means its crazy season when it comes to transfer rumours, as Neil Humphreys is all too happy to discuss...Neil Humphreyshttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/why-transfer-rumours-twist-and-shout-louder-beatles
And here it is once more. The transfer window merry-go-round that somehow manages to mimic The Beatles’ prolific career from sensible mop-tops to stoned artists in psychedelic kaftans in a single month.
At newspaper meetings and agents’ offices around the world, a designated Vanna White-type figure is currently standing by to spin a wheel filled with the faces of international footballers. From Lionel Messi in Barcelona to Manchester City’s forgotten Scott Sinclair, they’re all on there - it’s a really big wheel - waiting to be spun and hoping for a mention in the daily gossip columns.
SEE ALSO"Are they still here?!" The Premier League squad fillers
The first few spins are straightforward, practical and down-to-earth, very much like the early output of The Beatles.
Jermain Defoe possibly returning to the Premier League, Victor Valdes signing for Manchester United and Crystal Palace chasing Rickie Lambert. This is all predictable, middle-of-the road stuff, the Love Me Do of football speculation. It’s entertaining, but not life-changing.
But in the omnipresent news cycle, a month-long window is a lifetime. The need for a daily gossip fix is insatiable. So the rumour hunters dig deeper into their creative well to unearth small, palatable nuggets of nonsense, suggesting they’re smoking something stronger than whatever Wojciech Szczesny was puffing.
By mid-January, the fanciful football gossip hits its Rubber Soul and Revolver peak, its innovative summit, by successfully blending hardheaded pragmatism with early hints of creative lunacy. With Valdes on board at United, David de Gea gets linked with a move to Real Madrid. On first inspection, the idea of selling Manchester United’s best player seems outlandish. It’s too much of an imaginative leap, like listening to Norwegian Wood for the first time.
But it grows on you. There’s a clear method and very little madness. Iker Casillas is on his way out at Real Madrid. De Gea is Madrid born and bred and eager to skip along Cristiano Ronaldo’s path towards a childhood dream. Meanwhile, a World Cup penalty-stopping saviour could conceivably be eager to link up with his former Dutch master. Louis van Gaal selling De Gea for a sizeable profit and replacing him with Newcastle’s Tim Krul suddenly makes sense, particularly when Krul is stuck at a club where board meetings must look like a backstage gathering of The Muppets.
SEE ALSOJanuary or June: Is it better to buy now or pay later?
Mid-January marks the high point. This is as good as the transfer speculation is going to get. It’s John Lennon singing Tomorrow Never Knows, pushing the boundaries and testing the public’s appetite for new, bolder material. Some of the rumours are groundbreaking, but still listenable. James Milner being linked with Liverpool, for instance, may be a radical departure for some but others clearly recognise the merits of such a move. Milner remains a reliable, committed performer, but his playing time is limited at Manchester City, whereas Liverpool keep selling their reliable, committed performers.
Of course, even in this golden era of transfer window conjecture, someone will always go too far and put something out there that the world just isn’t ready for, like Ringo Starr singing Yellow Submarine. Luis Suarez moving to Manchester United is similarly out of whack. It just doesn’t resonate. Even if one allows for the ongoing Barcelona breakdown, the thought of the Uruguayan signing for United less than a year after leaving Liverpool is too much, too soon.
That’s a story for the end of January, when Sgt Pepper is delivering the most mind-bending transfer speculation in a newspaper taxi. That’s the moment when any semblance of realism is jettisoned and we all tumble through the looking glass towards a Sky Sports clip of Harry Redknapp, sitting in his car on deadline day and explaining why he’s signing one of his old Tottenham players.
SEE ALSOThe truth behind the transfer window rumour mill
For The Beatles, that tipping point from brilliant to break-up came after the release of their iconic album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. For this transfer window, it could come after revelations of Saint Messi’s lonely broken heart at the Nou Camp. The loopy reasoning behind his rumoured defection to Chelsea makes sense only if viewed through hallucinogenic binoculars.
Messi followed the club on Instagram. That’s it. He followed Chelsea’s official account, along with a couple of Chelsea players, on the social media site. So he’s off then. The Instagram theory drags our addiction for fresh product towards the I Am the Walrus era of transfer nonsense, where goo goo g’joob thinking is either inspired or insane, depending on your state of mind or how many hours are left in the transfer window.
After which, the January market will conclude its business just like the Fab Four, suddenly, acrimoniously and in an unseemly dispute over money.
For some, The Beatles will always end on a road, with four guys crossing a zebra crossing. For many others, the transfer window will always end on a road, with Sky Sports crossing over to speak to Redknapp through his car window.
Neil Humphreys is the best-selling author of football novels Match Fixer and Premier Leech, which was the FourFourTwo Football Novel of the Year. You can find his website righthere.
featureWed, 14 Jan 2015 11:53:40 +0000Joe Brewin323839 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comMadrid stars pay tribute to top dog RonaldoCarlo Ancelotti has led the Real Madrid tributes to Cristiano Ronaldo after he collected a third Ballon DOr in Zurich on Monday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/madrid-stars-pay-tribute-ronaldo-after-third-ballon-dor
Ronaldo polled 37.66 per cent of the vote from national team coaches, captains and media with Barcelona's Lionel Messi second (15.76 per cent) and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer third (15.72 per cent).
It is the second successive year Ronaldo has collected the award and caps a memorable 2014 that saw him saw him inspire Real to their 10th UEFA Champions League title, and break the record the number of goals in the competition in a single season – scoring 17.
Ancelotti hailed Ronaldo as one of the best players he has worked with during his career, likening the Portugal captain to French legend Zinedine Zidane.
"I've always said that Zinedine Zidane was the player I most enjoyed watching in training, because of the things he did," he said. "And Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the players I most enjoy watching on the pitch.
"He's a perfectionist and he has an awful lot of talent, but he works very hard to polish that talent and improve the many attributes that he possesses."
Team-mates Toni Kroos, Gareth Bale, Iker Casillas and Alvaro Arbeloa echoed the comments of their head coach, heaping praise on Ronaldo for a fantastic calendar year.
Kroos tweeted: "Congratulations @Cristiano for the #BallondOr! And compliments to @Manuel_Neuer! I'm happy to play with you @realmadrid and @DFB_Team!"
While Bale added: "Congratulations @Cristiano , well deserved. 3 times ballon d'or winner, great achievement. #3times"
Goalkeeper Casillas - who voted for Ronaldo with his top pick as Spain captain - felt the awarding of the trophy to his team-mate was well deserved, while Arbeloa tweeted his pride at playing alongside the 29-year-old.
"Congratulations @Cristiano by the #BallondOr, recognition to a great year," Casillas posted, with Arbeloa adding: "Doing great this shirt [the Real Madrid shirt]. Proud to share with you."
news_articleMon, 12 Jan 2015 20:34:01 +0000322782 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCasillas: Ancelotti better coach than MourinhoIker Casillas insists he harbours no ill-feeling towards former Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, but feels Carlo Ancelotti is a better coach.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/casillas-ancelotti-better-coach-mourinho
Spain international Casillas has been with the European champions his entireclub career, butthe goalkeeper's future appeared in doubt in Mourinho's final season in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2012-13 when he was dropped to the bench in favour of Diego Lopez.
Initially, Ancelotti kept faith in Lopez and deployed himas his number one in La Liga matches last term, but he departed to join Milan in the close-season.
Casillas has subsequently enjoyed a renaissance and hasfirmly re-established himself in the Real side.
The Real captain admits he endured a "love-hate relationship" with Mourinho,but, despite confessing his preference for Ancelotti's tenure,he is adamant that any future meeting with the nowChelsea manager would be amicable.
"Ancelotti is better than Mourinho," he told Cadena Cope."With Mourinho I had a love-hate relationship.
"In his time here I did not speak of him when he was in my locker room, nor do I think that I have to talk now when he is already managing another team and I'm with my team. It would be a bit self-seeking and little cowardly on my part.
"[I hope] that things go very well for him. In the time that he was at Real Madrid, he won titles and you have to give him thanks.
"If I cross paths with him tomorrow I am going to extend my hand, then it will be up to him if he shakes it. I think he would shake."
Casillas, though, stated that his relationship with former team-mate Xabi Alonso has deteriorated
The duo are thought to have fallen out over Alonso's public backing for Mourinho in the past, while the now Bayern Munich midfielder endorsed Manuel Neuer to win the FIFA Ballon d'Or ahead of Real superstarCristiano Ronaldo - causing some in Spain to accuse Alonso of a lack of respect.
"It does not interest me what he says. In the last years our relationship has not been adequate," Casillasadded. "Obviously Cristiano Ronaldo deserves the Ballon d'Or.
"Everyone has their opinion. If Xabi has that opinion, mine is different."
news_articleFri, 09 Jan 2015 09:40:50 +0000320543 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comKeeper Casillas insists: Im going nowhereIker Casillas has no intention of leaving Real Madrid after re-establishing himself as the European champions first-choice goalkeeper.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/casillas-im-going-nowhere
Real ended a stellar year by beating San Lorenzo 2-0 to claimtheClub World Cup in Marrakech on Saturday.
The Spanish giants also wontheUEFA Champions League, Copa del Rey andSupercopa de Espana in a memorable 2014.
Club captain Casillas has endured a mixed year, as he made only two La Liga appearances for Carlo Ancelotti's side last season and was guilty of makingmistakes for both club and country.
Casillas' future at Santiago Bernabeu has been called into question, with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal linked with a move for Real's long-serving keeper.
The 33-year-old has two years left on his contract with the option of a third year and he has no plans to leave the club.
Casillas is quoted as saying in Marca: "It's been my best year. Four titles and I played in all of them, it doesn't get much better than that. I can't forget those things just because I had a bad six weeks.
"Let's take things one step at a time. I'm under contract and have no reason to think about leaving."
news_articleTue, 23 Dec 2014 11:17:03 +0000310343 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCasillas penalty save was key, says AncelottiReal Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti believes Iker Casillas penalty save was the key moment in his sides 4-0 win over Cruz Azul on Tuesday.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/penalty-save-was-key-says-ancelotti
The Liga outfit pulled ahead through Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema in the Club World Cup semi-final, but the former was lucky to avoid a red card when he brought downMariano Pavone in the penalty area before half-time.
Casillas kept out Gerardo Torrado'sresulting spot-kick - his second penalty save in as many matches - before Gareth Bale and Isco went on to seal a convincing victory.
"It is true that the penalty save was key," he said. "With the game at 2-0 it looked finished and they had a chance to get back into it.
"It is never easy, but the team played well and won. Now we'll see what the final throws up.
"We had strength, organisation, stayed focused and we did our best."
Although Cristiano Ronaldo failed to find the net himself, Ancelotti was satisfied with the attacker's performance after he provided the assists for both Bale and Isco.
"He played very welland gave assistance," he continued."Heis always very effective, even though he did not score.
"He is surelysavinga goal for the final."
Real will meet the winner of Wednesday's clash betweenSan Lorenzoand Auckland City in the final.
"San Lorenzo havemore experience than Auckland, but in football anything can happen and we will prepare well forthe final whoever the opponent," added Ancelotti.
And Real will be boosted by the news Sergio Ramos should be available for the final, despite being withdrawn shortly after the hour mark on Tuesday.
"I do not think it [the injury] is worrisome," the Italian coachexplained."In two days he can be good and available for the final."
news_articleTue, 16 Dec 2014 22:49:33 +0000306427 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comPenalty save inspired Real win at AlmeriaBoth Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Iker Casillas nominated the latters penalty save as the key moment of Fridays La Liga win.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/penalty-save-inspired-real-victory
The capital club triumphed 4-1 at Almeria but after a scratchy first half, Real looked set to be reeled in at 2-2 just after the hour mark, when Marcelo fouled Edgar Mendez in the box.
Almeria's Verza, who had struck the home side's earlier equaliser, stepped up to the spot but his tame effort could not beat Casillas, who dived smartly to his left to palm the shot away.
"It was a key moment," Casillas said after the game.
"If we had let the goal in it would have been different because they would have equalised but the team reacted and really got into the game. We leave here happy."
Ancelotti added: "The penalty save was a decisive moment and everything got easier after that."
Having remained in front, Real wrapped up their three-goal victory in the final 10 minutes with Cristiano Ronaldo striking twice in seven minutes to stretch the winning streak of Ancelotti's side to 20 matches in all competitions.
"It wasn't smooth sailing," Real's coach said.
"They put a lot of pressure on us but our quality came through and we were able to win."
Real had led 2-1 at half-time through a fine goal from Isco and a header from Gareth Bale, split by Verza's blistering strike from 20 yards.
Casillas conceded the visitors had not been happy at the break, despite their advantage.
"During the break we mentioned that this wasn't our best game, we were lacking intensity," the goalkeeper said.
"At the end of the day, we finished the game resoundingly, although it was a hard-fought battle to get to 4-1."
The victory capped off Real's year in La Liga with the capital outfit moving five points clear at the top of the table ahead of the Christmas break, although Barcelona (34 points) and Atletico Madrid (32) will be expected to reduce that margin when they play on Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Real will now turn their attention to the Club World Cup, where they will face either Cruz Azul of Mexico or Australia's Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday.
Ancelotti was not interested in playing down expectations ahead of his team's trip to Morocco, with six of the past seven editions having been won by European teams.
"We finished the year well in the league and now it is time to concentrate on the Club World Cup, we have to win it," the Italian said.
"If I had to give the team a grade, they would get a very high mark. We aim to win every competition we play in. There is a good atmosphere and we will go out there to win."
news_articleSat, 13 Dec 2014 01:06:16 +0000304293 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCasillas looks ahead to further trophiesIker Casillas believes early progress in the UEFA Champions League will help Real Madrid focus on their battle for trophies on four fronts.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/casillas-looks-ahead-further-trophies-after-real-progress
Goalkeeper Casillas made a record-breaking 144th appearance in Europe's premier competition as Karim Benzema's goal was enough to earna 1-0 Group B win over Liverpool and book the holders'place in the last 16.
Despite Real struggling match the excellent performance levelsof recent weeks, Casillas enjoyed a relatively quiet outing against a much-changed Liverpool XI.
With qualification secured, Casillas is ready to focus on the battles ahead in La Liga and the Copa del Rey, while the FIFA Club World Cup also looms on the horizon.
"I am pleased for me but especially for the team,"he said.
"We have done our homework - we managed to qualify for the last 16, so that now we can focus even more on the Copa del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup."
Real were 3-0 winners at Anfield last month and came into the return match having dispatched rivals Barcelona in convincing fashion before last weekend's 4-0 thrashing of Granada.
Liverpool proved to be a more dogged opponent this time around, but Casillas was largely pleased with Madrid's efforts.
"Obviously we struggled to find the second goal, but we controlled most of the match," he said.
"We came off some tough games. We managed to find the goal and then we controlled the game.
"The defence has been great but Liverpool was the team that was supposed to risk more.
"All in all, we are going through a great period, but praise can make you weaker, so we have to be careful and go little by little."
Barcelona great Xavi will go neck and neck with Casillas if he features against Ajax in the Champions League and the goalkeeper is happy to take any record breaking in his stride.
He added:"Me, I wish I could play until I am 40 but competition is hard so I’ll do my best to compete and try to play every game."
news_articleTue, 04 Nov 2014 23:09:23 +0000281457 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comAncelotti in “I quit! pledge (sort of) and Barcelonas Andorra problemThe Italian says he wont take no messing from nobody, writesTim Stannard...Tim Stannardhttp://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/ancelotti-i-quit-pledge-sort-and-barcelonas-andorra-problem
Well would ‘ya lookie here, Siree Bob! Someone has got their feet under the table and is feeling rather too comfortable with their lot.
That person is Carlo Ancelotti, who has forgotten that he would almost certainly have been run out of town last summer by devil dogs were it not for a rare bit of set-piece confusion among Atlético’s back four in the Champions League final.
Carlito, Real Madrid manager and, according to Silvio Berlusconi, an AC Milan adviser, was boasting late on Monday night to Spanish radio stationCOPEthat “if a president asks me to play one particular player, then I might be off”. It’s a rather handy position to take – if the Italian boss were not to field a president’s pick, then he'd be off anyway.
The one footballer in question who might fall into that position of being a player non grata to coach but very grata to Florentino Pérez is Iker Casillas, who is set to be the main topic of conversation in the Spanish capital until hell freezes over (Alcorcón’s IKEA can get frosty, so there is always hope) or Casillas himself decides to opt for a quieter life of permanent injury at Arsenal.
Either way, Ancelotti is standing by Casillas despite his gaff against Slovakia and the fact that his club captain is booed by stroppy sections of the Santiago Bernabeu. “We have let in a lot of goals, but not due to him,” declared the Madrid boss, saying that you could count Casillas mistakes over his career on one hand. And not the hand of people who come from the Isle of Sark, either.
Fuss over nothing
Barcelona have had just the three or six court cases running over the past week, so there's been plenty of time for other malarky from the Catalan club. One such kerfuffle was the club joining a campaign for the people of Catalunya to have the right to vote about independence or not, Scotland style.
That led to Spanish League (LFP) president Javier Tebas being blasted across the front pages of Madrid papers that an independent Cataluyna would see the likes of Barcelona and Espanyol unable to participate in La Liga.
Of course, what was left out was the fact the break-up of Spain was a hefty 'if' and the footnote from Tebas of "under current statutes" that could probably be updated considering Andorra participates in the lower stretches of Spain’s pyramid –the only non-Spanish side that is able to do so at the moment.
"For that [change] to take place there would need to be a change in parliament and we'd need to see if the affected industry would agree or not," said Tebas, on something that is never, ever going to happen but appeared to generate a huge amount of publicity. International week, of course. Which is so very nearly over.
featureWed, 15 Oct 2014 11:00:00 +0000Joe Brewin268577 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comDel Bosque: Casillas not to blame for Spain defeatVicente del Bosque refused to blame Spains shock 2-1 Euro 2016 qualifying defeat to Slovakia on captain Iker Casillas error.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/del-bosque-casillas-not-blame-spain-defeat
Reigning European champions Spain fell behind in the 17th minute in Thursday's Group C clash in Zilina when Casillas was beaten straight down the middle byJurajKucka's long-range strike,despite it seemingly being a comfortable save.
Substitute Paco Alcacer thought he had earned Spain at least a point with eight minutes on the clockwith his second international goal in three senior appearances, but Miroslav Stoch consigned Spain to their first qualifying defeat for any tournament since October 2006 when he nodded home an 87th-minute winner.
Casillas' misjudgement is his latest in a difficult 2014 thatincludeda series of errors in Spain's woeful World Cup defence and head coach Del Bosque has faced calls to drop his skipper in place of David de Gea,who has been in impressive form for Manchester United.
Del Bosque opted not to publicly criticise the Real Madrid goalkeeper, though, and stated that the defeatcan be attributed to the surprises that football often produces.
"Casillas had saved good chances from Slovakia previously," he told reporters. "I didn't see it clearly but the ball moved strangely and tricked Iker.
"This is football. We cannot fault players. We showed patience to move the ball but lacked accuracy and their goalkeeper played well.
"Nobody likes to lose but nobody can say we lacked effort or attitude. We lost due to circumstances of football."
Del Bosque also defended striker Diego Costa, who has now failed to score in six appearances for Spain since switching allegiance from the country of his birth Brazil.
He added: "Costa is very enthusiastic and putting in effort.
"As well as his performance we are happy with his commitment."
news_articleThu, 09 Oct 2014 21:50:32 +0000265857 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comCasillas admits he considered Real exitReal Madrid captain Iker Casillas admits his struggles in recent years at the club made him consider leaving the European champions.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/casillas-admits-he-considered-real-exit
The past two seasons have been turbulent for Casillas, who fell out with previous coach Jose Mourinho, before finding himself out of Carlo Ancelotti's Liga XI for much of last season.
Casillas has been in the headlines again this term, having fallen out with full-back Alvaro Arbeloa and he also received jeers from Real fans after starting the season with perceived below-par performances.
But, having seemingly regained Ancelotti's trust and regained his spot in La Liga, Casillas is now determined to see out his career as a one-club man.
"Yes, I had thought about leaving," he explained to Canal+.
"You do not want to disturb things or create a bad environment because you always want Madrid to win.
"But then you think 'you have to compete and fight'. These last two years have seen me fight and seen me struggle.
"There were no offers for me and I want to finish my career here."
Casillas also discussed the pain he felt at his public criticism, at its worst in last month's derby defeat to Atletico Madrid.
He added: "It hurts. I have been here since I was nine years old, I have got many things with this club and it has been a springboard to the national team for me.
"The public are free to do what they want but it also hurts. Being here so long also means I have to accept certain things."
news_articleTue, 07 Oct 2014 06:40:06 +0000264613 at http://www.fourfourtwo.comReal Madrid back on track, warns CasillasIker Casillas is confident Real Madrid will reel in La Liga leaders Barcelona following Sundays 5-0 hammering of Athletic Bilbao.http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/real-back-track-warns-casillas
Carlo Ancelotti's men are now on a four-game winning streak in the Spanish top flight after Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema wrapped up the points at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday.
Ronaldo scored a hat-trick, taking his tally for the season to 13 goals from just six league outings,while Benzema added a brace as Real's forward ranks combined to leave Bilbao helpless.
However, Casillas was more pleased with the clean sheet and believesthe team's all-round showing bodes well as they look tomakeup the four-point gap to leaders Barcelona.
"The result could have gone differently but we were good across the park. We still have to catch up with the league leaders," said the experienced goalkeeper.
"The important thing was to continue with our form, slowly but surely we'll make up the difference.
"We had been conceding a lot of goals so this is an important result. The team was full of confidence and we were solid throughout. We players at the back feel the support from the forward players.
"We had a fruitful night in front of goal without conceding, which is what the fans want."
Casillas also paid tribute to Ronaldo, whonettedhis 22nd Liga hat-trick toequalthe Spanishtop-flight record held jointly byTelmo Zarra andAlfredo Di Stefano.
"We all know how great a player he is, his streak of form and his numbers are there for all to see," added the 33-year-old.
"He has broken all the records in terms of goalscoring and assists. We are delighted for him.
"The greatest thing is that the fans are behind the team, that is the main thing and it will make us play at our best."
news_articleMon, 06 Oct 2014 08:53:16 +0000264253 at http://www.fourfourtwo.com